The soul polemic in the Chinese religious tradition

Authors

  • Leonid E.  Yangutov Institute for Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences 6, ul. M. Sakh”ianovoi, Ulan-Ude, 670047, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu17.2019.412

Abstract

The article is devoted to the evolution of the polemic of the soul between Buddhist supporters and its opponents, which were reflected in Chinese writing compositions written in the period of its distribution and expansion in China. The aim of this article is the opening of the essence of this polemic and its meaningfulness in the history of Buddhist expansion in China. In this connection, there are several tasks put forward : firstly, to analyze the religious situation that unfolded in China before Buddhist expansion; secondly, to consider the ideas about the soul, ascending to its ancient history; thirdly, to show the reasons for the evolution of the polemic concerning the soul; then, to show the polemic reflection in the compositions from the first collection of written monuments of “Hunminji,” which was composed prior to the formation of Buddhist schools in China. Scientific methods such as textual critical analysis and comparative, culture logical and historical approaches are used. As a result of this article, we have obtained the the reflection of Buddhist adaptation to the Chinese religious base and its transformation in this country, rich with its own spiritual and cultural traditions. The fundamental meaningfulness and content aspects are exposed between the Buddhist opponents and its supporters, mainly, between the Confucians coming from the bureaucratic circles and well-educated Buddhists. The gradual transition of the Buddhist soteriology to the canonical course is shown in the article. In conclusion, the results of the scientific research are summarized. The polemic of the soul concluded with the appearance of the works presented by Buddhist schools formed in China. Meanwhile, the idea of the soul as the ontological basis for rebirth continues to be popular in the doctrine of Buddhism.

Keywords:

Buddhism, Confucianism, rebirth, soul, body, salvation

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
 

References

Литература

1. Юань Кэ. Чжунго гудай шэньхуа (Мифы древнего Китая). Шанхай: Шану Иньшугуань, 1957. 494 с.

2. Розенберг О. О. Труды по буддизму. М.: Наука, Главная редакция восточной литературы. 1991. 295 с.

3. Малявин В. В. Народные верования // Духовная культура Китая. М.: Восточная литература РАН, 2007. Т. 2. С. 100–109.

4. Большой китайско-русский словарь / ред. И. М. Ошанин. М.: Наука, 1984. Т. 4. 1106 с.

5. Groot J. M. de. The religious system of China. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1907. Vol. 5. 928 p.

6. Городецкая О. М. Дух и тело в погребальных традициях Древнего Китая // Проблемы Дальнего Востока. 2005. № 2. С. 133–144.

7. Сыма Цянь. Исторические записки («Ши цзи»). М.: Наука, Восточная литература, 1992. Т. VI / пер. с кит., предисл. и коммент. Р. В. Вяткина. 483 с.

8. Моу-цзы. Лихо лунь (О разрешении сомнений) // Хунминцзи. Пекин: Чжунхуа шуцзюй чубаньшэ, 2013. Т. 1. С. 6–69.

9. Ло Цзюньчжан. Гэншэнлунь (Трактат о рождении вновь) // Хунминцзи. Пекин: Чжунхуа шуцзюй чубаньшэ, 2013. Т. 1. С. 290–292.

10. Цыренов Ч. Ц. Буддийская антология «Хунминцзи» и ранний период китайского буддизма // Вестник Бурятского государственного университета. Сер. История. 2012. № 7. С. 26–32.

11. Чжэн Даоцзы. Шэнь бу ме лунь (О неуничтожимости души) // Хунминцзи. Пекин: Чжунхуа шуцзюй чубаньшэ, 2013. Т. 1. C. 297–305.

12. Янгутов Л. Е., Цыренов Ч. Ц. О взаимоотношении буддизма с конфуцианством в период его становления в Китае в эпохи Вэй (220–265 гг. н. э.), двух Цзинь (265–410 гг. н. э.), Южных и Северных царств (420–589 гг. н. э.). (По материалам сочинений средневековых мыслителей) // Ученые записки Забайкальского государственного университета. Сер. Философия, социология, культура, социальная работа. 2015. № 4. С. 61–70.

13. Хэ Чэнтянь. Да син лунь (О постижении природы) // Хунминцзи. Пекин: Чжунхуа шуцзюй чубаньшэ, 2013. Т. 1. С. 224–228.

14. Цзун Бин. Мин фо лунь (О разъяснении буддизма») // Хунминцзи. Пекин: Чжунхуа шуцзюй чубаньшэ, 2013. Т. 1. С. 91–167.

15. Ch’en K. K. The Chinese transformation of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973. 345 p.

16. Комиссарова Т. Г. «Монах не должен быть почтителен к императору»: Из буддийской полемики в IV–V вв. // Буддизм и государство на Дальнем Востоке. М.: Восточная литература, 1987. С. 47–70.

17. Янгутов Л. Е. Китайский буддизм: тексты, исследования словарь. Улан-Удэ: Изд-во Бурятского гос. ун-та, 1998. 160 c.

18. Атеисты, материалисты, диалектики Древнего Китая / вступ. статья, пер. и коммент. Л. Д. Позднеевой. М.: Наука, Главная редакция восточной литературы, 1967. 403 с.

19. Хуэй Юань. Шамэнь буцзин ванчжэ лунь (Монах не должен поклоняться императору) // Хунминцзи. Пекин: Чжунхуа шуцзюй чубаньшэ, 2013. Т. 1. С. 313–335.

20. Лю Лифу. Хун дао мин цзяо (Возвеличивать учение, пояснять путь): «Хунминцзи»: Исследование. Пекин: Чжун хуа шу цзюй, 2004. 133 c.

21. Цыренов Ч. Ц.Придворный чиновник эпохи Южных и Северных династий Цао Сывэнь и его буддийское сочинение «Возражения на “Рассуждения о смертности души”» // Буддизм в контексте диалога культур. Улан-Удэ: Изд-во Бурятского гос. ун-та, 2015. С. 210–223.

22. Цыренов Ч. Ц. Сяо Чэнь и его сочинение «Возражения на рассуждения о смертности души» // Вестник Бурятского научного центра Сибирского отделения Российской академии наук. 2013. № 1 (9). С. 174–181.

23. Янгутов Л. Е. Традиции Праджняпарамиты в Китае. Улан-Удэ: Изд-во Бурятского гос. ун-та, 2007. 272 с.

References

1. Yuan Ke (1957), Myths of ancient China, Shangwu yinshuguan, Shanghai. (In Chinese)

2. Rozenberg, O. O. (1991), Works about Buddhism, Nauka Publ., Moscow. (In Russian)

3. Malyavin V. V. (2007), “Folk beliefs”, in Dukhovnaia kul’tura Kitaia, vol. 2, Vostochnaia literatura RAN Publ., Moscow, pp. 100–109. (In Russian)

4. Oshanin, I. M. (ed.) (1984), The Great Chinese-Russian Dictionary, vol. 4, Nauka Publ., Moscow. (In Russian)

5. Groot, J. M. de (1907), The religious system of China, its ancient forms, evolution, history and present aspect, manners, customs and social institutions connected therewith, vol. 5, E. J. Brill, Leiden.

6. Gorodeckaya, O. M. (2005), “Spirit and body in the funeral traditions of Ancient China”, Problemy Dalnego Vostoka, no. 2, pp. 133–144. (In Russian)

7. Sima Qian (1992), Historical notes: (“Shi czi”), vol. VI, Nauka Publ., Vostochnaia literatura Publ., Moscow. (In Russian)

8. Mou-zi (2013), “Lihuo lun (About the resolution of doubt)”, Hоngmingji, vol. 1, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing, pp. 6–69. (In Chinese)

9. Luo Junzhang (2013), “Gengshenglun (Treatise on birth again)”, Hоngmingji, vol. 1, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing, pp. 290–292. (In Chinese)

10. Tsyrenov, Ch. C. (2012), “Buddhist anthology ‘Hunminji’ and the early period of Chinese Buddhism”, Vestnik Buriatskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser. Istoriia, no. 7, pp. 26–32. (In Russian)

11. Zheng Daozi (2013), “On the indestructibility of the soul”, Hоngmingji, vol. 1, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing, pp. 297–305. (In Chinese)

12. Yangutov, L. E. and Tsyrenov, Ch. C. (2015), “On the relationship of Buddhism with Confucianism in the period of its formation in China in the Wei era (220–265 AD), the two Jin (265–410 AD), the Southern and Northern kingdoms (420–589 AD). (Based on the materials of the works of medieval thinkers)”,Uchenye zapiski Zabaikal’skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser. Filosofiia, sotsiologiia, kul’tura, sotsial’naia rabota, no. 4, pp. 61–70. (In Russian)

13. He Chengtian (2013), “Da sin lun (On the comprehension of nature)”, Hоngmingji, vol. 1, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing, pp. 224–228. (In Chinese)

14. Zong Bing (2013), “Ming po lun (On the clarification of Buddhism)”, Hоngmingji, vol. 1, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing, pp. 91–167. (In Chinese)

15. Ch’en, K. K. (1973), The Chinese transformation of Buddhism, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1973.

16. Komissarova, T. G. (1987), “’The monk should not worship the emperor’: From Buddhist polemics in the IV–V centuries”, Buddizm i gosudarstvo na Dal’nem Vostoke, Vostochnaia literatura Publ., Moscow, pp. 47–70. (In Russian)

17. Yangutov, L. E. (1998), Chinese Buddhism: texts, researches, dictionary, Izdatel’stvo Buriatskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, Ulan-Ude. (In Russian)

18. Atheists, materialists, dialecticians of Ancient China (1967), foreword, trans. and comm. by L. D. Pozdneeva, Nauka, Glavnaia redaktsiia vostochnoi literatury Publ., Moscow. (In Russian)

19. Hui Yuan (2013), “The monk should not worship the emperor”, Hоngmingji, vol. 1, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing, pp. 313–335. (In Chinese)

20. Liu Lifu (2004), To exalt the doctrine, to explain the way: Hоngmingji: Study, Zhonghua shuju chubanshe, Beijing. (In Chinese)

21. Tsyrenov, Ch. C. (2015), “The court official of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Cao Siven, and his Buddhist composition, ‘Objections to the «Discourse on the Mortality of the Soul»’”, Buddizm v kontekste dialoga kultur, Izdatel’stvo Buriatskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, Ulan-Ude, pp. 210–223.(In Russian)

22. Tsyrenov, Ch. C. (2013), “Xiao Chen and his work ‘Objections to reasoning about the mortality of the soul’”, Vestnik Buriatskogo nauchnogo tsentra Sibirskogo otdeleniia Rossiiskoi akademii nauk, no. 1 (9), pp. 174–181. (In Russian)

23. Yangutov, L. E. (2007), Traditions of the prajnaparamita in China, Izdatel’stvo Buriatskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, Ulan-Ude. (In Russian)

Downloads

Published

2019-12-27

How to Cite

Yangutov, L. E. (2019). The soul polemic in the Chinese religious tradition. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies, 35(4), 674–685. https://doi.org/10.21638/spbu17.2019.412

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 4 (2019): Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies

Section

Religious studies

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.